A member of the public has her eyes examined, as part of the Kampong Speu provincial health department’s provision of free eye examinations and treatment to mark World Sight Day. Kampong Speu health department
The Ministry of Health has marked World Sight Day by calling on parents and guardians to seek immediate treatment should their children experience any eye issues.
As part of the celebrations of this year’s October 10 day – held under the theme of "Love Your Child's Eye Health", the ministry urged caregivers to consult specialists at any eye care centre or hospital that provide ophthalmic services.
The day, marked annually, seeks to raise awareness about the importance of eye health care and protection.
“Loving your child's eyes means taking them for eye tests with specialists, and reflects the importance of global participation of parents and guardians prioritising their children's eye health,” said a ministry statement.
According to research by the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, children who receive corrective lenses as soon as they need them can reduce academic failure by up to 44 per cent.
The ministry noted that by prioritising children's eye health alongside other key health concerns, vision problems can be diagnosed and treated promptly.
This means focusing on children's eye health across Cambodia and raising awareness of integrating eye care into children's general health care.
“Vision impairment in children that is not corrected in time can seriously affect their education. We must all work together to prevent and reduce blindness and vision impairment in children in Cambodia to the lowest levels possible,” it said.
To celebrate World Sight Day, the Kampong Speu provincial health department organised two days of eye examinations and treatment for free of charge, from October 9 to 10, at the Kampong Speu Referral Hospital and Kong Pisey Referral Hospital.
Hok Kry, head of the department, said that during the two-day event, 242 citizens (146 women) received free eye examinations and treatment. This included 60 cataract surgeries (46 performed on women), seven pterygium surgeries (four on women), and the distribution of 14 pairs of eyeglasses.
A 2007 survey on blindness revealed that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in Cambodia.
Chukmol Kossama, deputy director of Preah Ang Duong Hospital, noted that more and more people are aware of eye diseases and visit specialists to resolve any problems they may be having.
